Guildford College guide

The Guildford College Group includes Guildford College and Merrist Wood
College.

Over 12,000 students study across the Guildford College Group each year

By Charlotte Lytton

2:07PM BST 17 Apr 2013

The Guildford College Group started life as Guildford Technical Institute in 1908, and moved to Stoke Park 31 years later. In 2003, it merged with agricultural institution Merrist Wood College, and again with Farnham Sixth Form College in 2007. The three sites make up the Guildford College Group.

Courses and Teaching

Guildford College offers courses including Construction, Hospitality and Interactive Media, while Merrist Wood has programmes from Animal Management to Garden Design. Degrees are validated by the universities of Surrey, London South Bank, Greenwich and Kingston.

Costs

Tuition fees from September 2013 are £5,250 per annum for full time foundation degrees, higher national certificates and higher national diplomas.

Student Life

Students can take advantage of Surrey's proximity to London while at the same time feel that they are in the countryside. Merrist Wood College is close to a number of National Trust homes and gardens. There are a number of bars and clubs in the centre of town, as well as shops, cafés and restaurants. At the Merrist Wood College, the Café Bar provides alcoholic drinks at limited times while Woody's Den, the student recreation area, hosts a range of games including table tennis, table football and board games and regular themed parties, quiz nights and live music.

Facilities

Guildford College is on the outskirts of Guildford, 30 miles outside London. Merrist Wood College, in Worplesdon, is approximately three miles from Guildford town centre.

Accommodation

The halls of residence are set in woodland surroundings at Merrist Wood College. They can accommodate up to 107 students in single study bedrooms with shared lavatory, shower and sitting room facilities. Prices for catered living range from £4,560-£5,460 per year depending on how many days of the week students want to live-in for. Homestay accommodation is also available to students at a cost of £130 per week for half board.

Education

The college will be building a new Construction and Engineering Centre and new Animal Management Centre over the next few years.

Sport

Guildford College's on-site health and fitness centre ActivZone is a fully equipped and also offers nutritional advice and various classes. Students get reduced membership fees. Merrist Wood College has a squash court, outdoor tennis court, multigym, sports pitches and cross-country courses for horse riding and walking.

Other

The college has an 18-hole, par-72, privately-owned championship golf course.

If you live in Surrey, are aged 16-18 and on a full-time course, you can get a Student Fare Card for the bus or train which means that you can travel for a reduced price.

Stoke Park

Bus: Buses run directly to the Guildford College every ten minutes from the following stands at Guildford Friary Bus Station in Woodbridge Road:

Stand 2: Number GL100 bus to The Spectrum

Stand 6: Number 34 bus (Arriva) to Woking

Stand 13: Number 3 bus (Safeguard) to Bellfields

Train: Trains stop at London Road station, which is a five-minute walk from Guildford College. Trains also stop at Guildford main line railway station, which is about a 20-minute walk away or buses leave from the Guildford Friary Bus Station to the College.

Merrist Wood

Bus: There is a bus service from Guildford Friary Bus Station in Woodbridge Road to Fairlands Estate which is a short walk away from the campus. From Guildford Friary Bus Station, catch the number 20 bus (Kite) to Aldershot via Fairlands Estate.

Train: Although there is a Train station in Worplesdon, it is easier to travel to Merrist Wood from the main Guildford station. From here students can catch the number 20 public bus that runs from Guildford bus station.

Coach: National Express run coaches to Guildford from all major UK destinations.